Climate Change background

The 2 degrees climate targetpresentation by Dr Matt Watson

3 Nov 2015

Dr Matt Watson is senior lecturer in human geography and talks about the two degrees target as a major goal for the planet.He explains why this target was set for the Paris negotiations (COP21), and what does it mean for people.

The political ambitions and country pledges submitted to Paris will not keep the planets average temperatures below 2 degrees. More radical changes are needed!

The human impact on our planet or 'How bad are bananas?'presentation by Mike Berners-Lee

3 Nov 2015

Mike Berners-Lee is a world leading expert in carbon emissions and author of “How Bad Are Bananas: The Carbon Footprint of Everything” and “The Burning Question”. He is the director of Small World Consulting, a spin-off company of the University of Lancaster that focusses on communicating the importance of the climate change issue and advising organisations on what they can do. His talk began with a big picture look at humankind's effect on the world, and one of the biggest symptoms of this impact is climate change.

Delivering on 2 degreespresentation by Prof Kevin Anderson

28 April 2016

“Grey-haired and no-haired people have failed your generation.” Addressing students and young researchers amongst the audience in the University of Sheffield's iconic new – and high-emissions - Diamond Building, Prof Kevin Anderson pointed to twenty-five years of inaction on climate change.

It is our job as universities to provide that clarity and imagination, Kevin asserts. “That’s what we’re paid for.” It has been lacking for at least 25 years on climate change. We need to think of how the future could be different – and provide policy-makers with both the vision, and clear guidance on how to get there. The skills are here in our universities – they just need to be focused in the right direction.